Last Modified: Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 6:03 p.m.

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Standing in front of the smiling faces, the Clear Creek Elementary teacher began to throw out words such as “family,” “friend,” “father” and “mother.”

She wasn't teaching the students how to say the words, however. Instead, the children's attention was on Terry hands as she taught the words in a new language – sign language.

Terry moved to Arden eight months ago and began teaching at the Hendersonville school in August. Along with her passion for kids and teaching, Terry brought her knowledge of sign language.

“That's just something that has always been a part of my life,” she said.

Terry, 30, grew up in Houston, where her mother's best friend had a deaf daughter. The families were very close and Terry's desire to learn sign language was born out of that relationship.

Once in college at Texas State, students were expected to learn another language and Terry knew exactly which one was for her. Instead of the traditional French and Spanish, she began taking courses at Austin Community College to learn sign language.

Once enrolled in those classes, she found that all the teachers were deaf.

“It really forced me to learn the language,” Terry said.

The language has been a tremendous asset for her in the classroom. It isn't a part of the state curriculum, but is taught to serve her students and broaden their minds.

“I want to make sure I'm diversified in my class,” Terry said. “I don't know how to speak Spanish or French, but I know how to sign.”

Terry teaches her students a word each day.

“They've grasped it,” she said. “They really have.”

When her kids ask for permission to go to the restroom, they raise their hands and sign the question. Terry signs back a “yes” or “no.”

“I just see a big difference when they do learn sign language,” Watkins said. “It's amazing just seeing how it can be integrated into the classroom. It's really a life lesson.”

Barbara Stepp, a first-grade literacy tutor at the school, started learning sign language in the 1970s after hearing-impaired children were incorporated into the classroom.

“I was very interested in it,” Stepp said. “It was so beneficial for all the other children. They could identify with the children that couldn't hear.”

Which is something Terry is passionate about. The majority of society doesn't know sign language, she said, which creates a barrier for deaf people in communities.

“There's just a lack of knowledge with people who don't know the language,” Terry said. “There's definitely a need for it out there.”

Her family is learning sign language as well. She came to Hendersonville with her husband, Ryan, who is a youth pastor at Biltmore Baptist Church. Her 1-year-old son, Asher, can sign as well.

All students at Clear Creek learn the alphabet in sign language through the Smiles program, but Terry takes it even further.

“It's just another way of meeting the need in the classroom,” Clear Creek Principal Audrey Reneau said. “She does a fantastic job with the students in the classroom. The sign language is an extra added touch.”

And it's just one more thing that feeds into what Terry tells her kids every day.

“I tell them every day that they're rock stars and that they can do anything,” she said.

<p>Kammie Terry's kindergartners gathered around her, sitting “crisscrossed applesauce” on a rainbow-colored rug. </p><p>Standing in front of the smiling faces, the Clear Creek Elementary teacher began to throw out words such as “family,” “friend,” “father” and “mother.”</p><p>She wasn't teaching the students how to say the words, however. Instead, the children's attention was on Terry hands as she taught the words in a new language – sign language.</p><p>Terry moved to Arden eight months ago and began teaching at the Hendersonville school in August. Along with her passion for kids and teaching, Terry brought her knowledge of sign language. </p><p>“That's just something that has always been a part of my life,” she said. </p><p>Terry, 30, grew up in Houston, where her mother's best friend had a deaf daughter. The families were very close and Terry's desire to learn sign language was born out of that relationship.</p><p>Once in college at Texas State, students were expected to learn another language and Terry knew exactly which one was for her. Instead of the traditional French and Spanish, she began taking courses at Austin Community College to learn sign language. </p><p>Once enrolled in those classes, she found that all the teachers were deaf. </p><p>“It really forced me to learn the language,” Terry said. </p><p>The language has been a tremendous asset for her in the classroom. It isn't a part of the state curriculum, but is taught to serve her students and broaden their minds. </p><p>“I want to make sure I'm diversified in my class,” Terry said. “I don't know how to speak Spanish or French, but I know how to sign.”</p><p>Terry teaches her students a word each day. </p><p>“They've grasped it,” she said. “They really have.”</p><p>When her kids ask for permission to go to the restroom, they raise their hands and sign the question. Terry signs back a “yes” or “no.” </p><p>Terry's teaching assistant, Dinah Watkins, loves the incorporation in the classroom.</p><p>“I just see a big difference when they do learn sign language,” Watkins said. “It's amazing just seeing how it can be integrated into the classroom. It's really a life lesson.”</p><p>Barbara Stepp, a first-grade literacy tutor at the school, started learning sign language in the 1970s after hearing-impaired children were incorporated into the classroom.</p><p>“I was very interested in it,” Stepp said. “It was so beneficial for all the other children. They could identify with the children that couldn't hear.”</p><p>Which is something Terry is passionate about. The majority of society doesn't know sign language, she said, which creates a barrier for deaf people in communities. </p><p>“There's just a lack of knowledge with people who don't know the language,” Terry said. “There's definitely a need for it out there.”</p><p>Her family is learning sign language as well. She came to Hendersonville with her husband, Ryan, who is a youth pastor at Biltmore Baptist Church. Her 1-year-old son, Asher, can sign as well. </p><p>All students at Clear Creek learn the alphabet in sign language through the Smiles program, but Terry takes it even further. </p><p>“It's just another way of meeting the need in the classroom,” Clear Creek Principal Audrey Reneau said. “She does a fantastic job with the students in the classroom. The sign language is an extra added touch.”</p><p>And it's just one more thing that feeds into what Terry tells her kids every day.</p><p>“I tell them every day that they're rock stars and that they can do anything,” she said. </p><p>Reach Millwood at 828-694-7881 or at joey.millwood@blueridgenow.com.</p>